Arizona high school football rewind: Curtain Calls from Zero Week

Gilbert Perry's Brock Purdy (13) throws a pass under pressure from Desert Vista's Caleb Humphrey (26) during the first half against at Desert Vista in Phoenix, Ariz. on August 18, 2017.(Photo: Patrick Breen/azcentral sports)

Spotlight game

Gilbert Perry senior quarterback Brock Purdy looked in mid-season form in the Pumas' 47-17 rout of host Phoenix Desert Vista, completing 19 of 25 passes for 380 yards and six touchdowns in less than three quarters of action and finishing the game 22 of 33 for 383 yards. Purdy threw four of his TD passes in the first half. His six TD passes went to six different receivers. His longest pass play was to Colby Dickie, covering 53 yards. D'Shayne James, a junior, 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, also stood out, making a couple of difficult catches in traffic for big gains. He nearly pulled in a one-handed catch that would have gone for a long TD. Purdy also had nice runs of 15, 25 and 24 yards.

Purdy, at 6-foot-1, isn't getting the major-college love as some of the other's taller top quarterbacks in the state. But he continues to show he deserves a major-college offer. Last year, he threw for 3,333 yards in 10 games and led Perry to the 6A semifinals, playing in the toughest region in the state, the Premier, earning All-Arizona from azcentral sports. But Purdy has only garnered small four-year college offers so far. He has the ability to extend plays and escape trouble with his feet. On a 25-yard completion Friday night at Desert Vista, he appeared sacked twice, reversing field both times, and finding an open receiver along the sideline.

What we learned

With Player of the Year T.J. Green now at Utah, Chandler won't have trouble running the football with Drake Anderson back from double-hip surgery that caused him to miss his junior season. The son of former Northwestern and Arizona Cardinals running back Damien Anderson, Drake averaged a little more than 10 yards on 11 carries in the No. 1 Wolves' 42-14 rout of Mesa Red Mountain. Red Mountain was without its best player, safety/running back Lance Lawson (high ankle sprain), but still this was a Red Mountain team that felt its strength was its defense after a 6A semifinal run last season. Anderson also had a 50-yard run that was called back by a penalty. With Anderson able to make big plays, this takes considerable heat off junior QB Jacob Conover, who threw for 333 yards and two scores on 12 of 15 passing. Red Mountain coach Mike Peterson said that Lawson should return for the Chandler Hamilton game Sept. 1.

Chandler Gunner Romney, WR, #18, catches the ball for the touchdown over Red Mountain Justin Coleman, #22, during the first half of a high school football game at Chandler High on August 18, 2017. #hsfb Chandler vs. Red Mountain(Photo: Cheryl Evans/The Republic)

On the rise

The Doug Provezano era at Phoenix Barry Goldwater couldn't have started any better. The first-year Goldwater coach watched his team rush for 400 yards and pretty much hold the state's No. 1 recruit in the 2018 class – wide receiver Solomon Enis – in check in a 52-19 rout of Phoenix North Canyon. Last year, Goldwater opened with a 21-14 loss to North Canyon and finished the season 1-9. Phoenix Brophy Prep coach Scooter Molander, who once had Provezano as one of his defensive assistants, said during the summer to watch for Goldwater with Provezano at the helm. Rascheed Sterling led Goldwater with a 75-yard scoring run, 42 receiving yards, and three total TDs. Ben Smith had 163 rushing yards for Goldwater. With Goldwater having an insurmountable lead in the final quarter, Enis had a 51-yard scoring catch. He finished with 61 receiving yards.

Making a move

How is this for dramatics? Scottsdale Desert Mountain got an untimed play at the end of the game after travesty turned into ecstasy. Quarterback Kedon Slovis was roughed up on a pass that was intercepted and returned 105 yards for a touchdown. That Scottsdale Chaparral TD was wiped out by the roughing penalty. On the free play, Slovis found Max Walker for a 15-yard touchdown in the end zone and a 28-27 victory. Desert Mountain trailed 20-0 at the half and 27-7 in the third quarter. Slovis threw two TD passes to Josh Walker (no relation to Max) and Nick Hill ran for a score during Desert Mountain's comeback. Chaparral was without sophomore QB Jack Miller, whose hardship was denied by the Arizona Interscholastic Association, and has to sit out the first five games.

Under the radar

Gilbert Highland junior running back Kohner Cullimore, 6-1, 193 pounds, didn't make any azcentral sports' preseason lists. But he's on the radar now after leading his team to a 29-19 victory over Tempe Corona del Sol in coach Brock Farrel's Highland debut. Cullimore ran for two touchdowns, but the big play was to start the second half when he returned the kickoff 96 yards for a score. Cullimore ran for 664 yards and six TDs as a sophomore on varsity last season when the Hawks went 3-7. His stock is rising after Friday's performance.

Hamilton's Jawhar Jordan Jr. (#25) rushes against Boulder Creek's Hunter Jaskey (#42) for a 7-yard touchdown in the second quarter of their high school football game on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, at Boulder Creek High School in Anthem, Ariz.(Photo: Carlos Salcedo/azcentral Sports)

Oro Valley Ironwood Ridge beat Marana 42-35, as senior RB Nick Brehler ran for 246 yards and four TDs. He also returned a punt 42 yards for a score.

Second-ranked Tucson Salpointe Catholic (4A) beat visiting Phoenix St. Mary's 47-6, with sophomore Bijan Robinson running for 207 yards on 14 carries. He had four rushing TDs, and he also ran a punt back for a score. Robinson, only 15, had to carry the load with junior RB Mario Padilla unable to play.

No. 1 (1A) Bagdad beat Elfrida Valley Union 64-14, as senior QB Israel Loveall threw six TD passes, picking up where he left off last season when he had 50 TD passes leading the Sultans to the state title.

Tucson Cholla QB Jordan Porter passed for five TDs and ran for three in a 59-21 rout of Douglas.

Coach Rick Wellbrock's debut for Chandler Basha produced a 27-20 win at Avondale Westview as junior QB Collin Collins passed for two TDs and senior RB Jay Goodman had a rushing and receiving score.

Four-time defending 4A champion Scottsdale Saguaro built a 41-0 lead at Tucson Catalina Foothills (last year's 4A final opponent) with the first team defense holding the Falcons to just two first downs in three quarters of work. Saguaro used reserves in the final quarter and the final score was 41-13. RB La'Ray Lucas had three TDs. LB Logan Pettijohn played well defensively.

Chandler Jaheim Brown-Taylor, #27, looks for an opening during the first half of a high school football game against the Red Mountain at Chandler High on August 18, 2017. #hsfb Chandler vs. Red Mountain Cheryl Evans/The Republic

Chandler quarterback Jacob Conover uses a headset during the first half of a high school football game against the Red Mountain at Chandler High on August 18, 2017. #hsfb Chandler vs. Red Mountain Cheryl Evans/The Republic

Boulder Creek's Patrick Serrano (#44) rushes for a first down that set up a touchdown against Hamilton in the fourth quarter of their high school football game on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, at Boulder Creek High School in Anthem, Ariz. Carlos Salcedo/azcentral Sports

Boulder Creek's Hendrix Johnson (#10) scores a touchdown against Hamilton in the fourth of their high school football game on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, at Boulder Creek High School in Anthem, Ariz. Carlos Salcedo/azcentral Sports

Hamilton's Tim Lockhart (#14) catches a 35-yard pass while Boulder Creek's Jake Myles (#27) chases him in the 4th quarter of their high school football game on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, at Boulder Creek High School in Anthem, Ariz. Carlos Salcedo/azcentral Sports

Hamilton's Jawhar Jordan Jr. (#25) rushes against Boulder Creek's Hunter Jaskey (#42) for a 7-yard touchdown in the second quarter of their high school football game on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, at Boulder Creek High School in Anthem, Ariz. Carlos Salcedo/azcentral Sports

Hamilton's Manny Armenta (#7) is brought down by Boulder Creek's Seth Andrews (#18) during the first quarter of their high school football game on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, at Boulder Creek High School in Anthem, Ariz. Carlos Salcedo/azcentral Sports

Boulder Creek's Seth Andrews (#18) kicks a punt deep in their own endzone during the first quarter of their high school football game against Hamilton on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, at Boulder Creek High School in Anthem, Ariz. Carlos Salcedo/azcentral Sports

Hamilton's Hunter Mayginnes (#77) lifts Hamilton's Domynic Hilton (#4) after he scores on a 7-yard pass during the first quarter of their high school football game against B older Creek on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, at Boulder Creek High School in Anthem, Ariz. Carlos Salcedo/azcentral Sports

Red Mountain quarterback Cannon Griner, #18, passes the ball during the first half of a high school football game against the Chandler at Chandler High on August 18, 2017. #hsfb Chandler vs. Red Mountain Cheryl Evans/The Republic

Chandler Tamir Waters, #6, tackles, Red Mountain Anthony Giraldi, #36, during the first half of a high school football game at Chandler High on August 18, 2017. #hsfb Chandler vs. Red Mountain Cheryl Evans/The Republic

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To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him at twitter.com/azc_obert. Watch azcentral sports high school football Facebook live every Wednesday at 7 p.m.